Part 626 (2/2)

2 Machabees Chapter 1

Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire.

1:1. To the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt; the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health and good peace.

1:2. May G.o.d be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:

1:3. And give you all a heart to wors.h.i.+p him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.

1:4. May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and send you peace.

1:5. May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never forsake you in the evil time.

1:6. And now here we are praying for you.

1:7. When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews wrote to you in the trouble and violence that came upon us in those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from the kingdom.

1:8. They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.

1:9. And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.

Scenopegia... Viz., the Encenia, or feast of the dedication of the altar, called here Scenopegia, or feast of tabernacles, from being celebrated with the like solemnity.

1:10. In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.

1:11. Having been delivered by G.o.d out of great dangers, we give him great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king.

Such a king... Viz., Antiochus Sidetes, who began to make war upon the Jews, whilst Simon was yet alive. 1 Mac. 15.39. And afterwards besieged Jerusalem under John Hirca.n.u.s. So that the Judas here mentioned, ver.

10, is not Judas Machabeus, who was dead long before the year 188 of the kingdom of the Greeks, for he died in the year 146 of that epoch, (see above 1 Mac. chap. 2., ver. 70, also the note on chap. 1, ver. 2,) but either Judas the eldest son of John Hirca.n.u.s, or Judas the Essene, renowned for the gift of prophecy, who flourished about that time.

1:12. For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia, that have fought against us, and the holy city.

1:13. For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the counsel of the priests of Nanea.

Nanea... A Persian G.o.ddess, which some have taken for Diana, others for Venus.

1:14. For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under the t.i.tle of a dowry.

1:15. And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a small company had entered into the compa.s.s of the temple, they shut the temple,

1:16. When Antiochus was come in: and opening a secret entrance of the temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with him, and hewed them in pieces; and cutting off their heads, they threw them forth.

1:17. Blessed be G.o.d in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.

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